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U mad, bro: Differing opinions on Steelers' performance against Tennessee has fans grouchy for Christmas | TribLIVE.com
Steelers/NFL

U mad, bro: Differing opinions on Steelers' performance against Tennessee has fans grouchy for Christmas

Tim Benz
Tim Benz

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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt plays against the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 19 at Heinz Field.

Based on my email and Twitter exchange about the Steelers this December, many of you folks seem to believe I’m the type of person who would leave out sour milk and stale cookies for Santa Claus.

Not true. I’m actually quite a jolly little elf this time of year.

Please, no short jokes. Let’s embrace the notion of goodwill toward your fellow man during the holiday season.

That’s something clearly lacking in this week’s “U mad, bro?”

We start with an email from Roger. He thinks Mark Madden and I were not spreading enough Christmas cheer after the Steelers beat the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

“Basically, you and Madden aren’t happy if they win, and you aren’t happy if they lose.

Fans are just trying to squeeze some entertainment out of a weird, injury plagued, covid-affected year. So what if people are delusional about the Steelers chances? Until they lose enough games to not make the playoffs, can we focus on the fact that they still have a chance? (See Steeler season 2005. They were the #6 seed going into the playoffs. They weren’t supposed to win anything that year either).

I have read your column from afar for years to keep up with my Pittsburgh sports. While not always agreeing, I respect your opinions. But continually bashing the team about the way they win games in an environment where there are no style points gets boring and irritating at best. Asking for a little bit of positivity in the reporting.”

So, I wasn’t being positive on Friday when I predicted that they’d beat Tennessee and I pointed out that a game like that is the kind of game that always keeps Mike Tomlin in the playoff hunt?

I wasn’t positive when I highlighted all the good things they did en route to the win over the Titans despite how rotten they were on offense and rush defense?

“Boring and irritating”? You want boring and irritating, Roger? There is nothing more boring and irritating than opening my inbox and getting emails from people who think my job is to cheerlead and spin positive narratives, so they’ll feel better about what they want to believe.

You believe whatever you want. My job is to tell you facts and offer opinions about them.

You’re a fan. It’s your job to root. Not mine. I’m a fan on my own time. I keep those things separate.

I find it hard to type with one hand and wave a Terrible Towel with the other. Some can do it. I can’t.

I like both activities. But not at the same time.

Well, now that I’m in the Christmas spirit, let’s get to this tweet from Steven. I also get the impression from him that he believes I’m being too picky in my critique of the Steelers after the win over Tennessee.

That’s what I like to hear! When in doubt, count on a pandemic to bail you out.

I don’t think the Steelers can beat the Chiefs, but I bet omicron at least covers the point spread.

Here we go Steelers, here we go!

Another guy named Steve sends this email. He’s a bit more jaded about the Steelers’ win.

“I never liked teams who conned their way into a win, and these Steelers have been conning us for years now. That’s how you can have so many regular seasons without a losing record, and nothing to show for it but embarrassment and folly. They happen to be just good enough to get lucky when the other team is having bad luck. When’s the last time anyone said after a Steelers game, ‘The other team played really really well, we just played better?’”

Super Bowl XLIII against the Cardinals? Antonio Brown’s “Immaculate Extension” win over the Baltimore Ravens?

I dunno. I suppose you can make that case for how they beat the Ravens a few weeks ago or their near second-half comeback against the Chargers.

They didn’t light the world on fire by beating the Bills this year in the opener, but that was a good win. You can make that case for their road wins at Baltimore and Tennessee a year ago.

But, yes, if your greater point is that the Steelers have (for the most part) barely managed to scrape by against mediocre teams in so-so performances since their 11-0 start last year, then that’s not wrong.

That’s how they’ve gotten to an 8-11-1 record since then.

Here’s an email from Dave about how bad the Steelers have been to start games lately.

“Why is no one writing about the phenomenon known as ‘Steeler Slow?’ It is consistent, and is a byproduct of coaching. How many years in a row can slow starts be tolerated?”

You’re right, Dave, “no one” is writing about that. Oh look, what’s this behind the Christmas tree?

The next “phenomenon” I’m going to write about is Steelers fans who can’t do a Google search.

A guy named Pip didn’t like the piece that I posted Wednesday that discussed the Steelers’ need to minimize the Chiefs run-after-catch yards. Tomlin and Minkah Fitzpatrick talked about that topic extensively on Monday and Tuesday, so I wrote about it.

Harsh. But I noticed on Pip’s Twitter feed that he fancies himself a “chalk talk” expert. He gets a lot deeper into Xs and Os and analytics than I did in that column. Here was his post before the Titans game.

Woah! Slow down there. Were you guys able to keep up with that? The Titans use play action, and the Steelers needed to play with urgency.

At 6-6-1 at the time. In December. Not in a playoff position. They really had to take that game “urgently.”

Got all that?

More in depth, though, was the tweet he sent out before sniping at my column Wednesday morning. Chalktalk Pip was critical of the Steelers’ in-game entertainment staff and their timing of playing “Renegade.”

Well, Pip, I waive the white flag. I can’t keep up with that level of analysis. But I’ll try to do better next time.

Finally, here’s an exchange I had with a few fans about officiating during the Steelers-Titans game.

The answer is Joey Bosa during the Chargers game a few weeks ago. This year, the Steelers have received five roughing the passer penalties. They have been flagged for four.

The “Ben never draws any calls” trope is a bit of a false narrative.

However, the “T.J. Watt doesn’t draw enough holding calls” complaint? Well, that’s something different.

Merry Christmas, T.J. Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy holiday.

No, seriously. Stay healthy. You aren’t allowed to miss any more games.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.

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Categories: Sports | Steelers/NFL | Breakfast With Benz
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